Pneumatic attachment for cleaning steam-generators



(N0 Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

W. D. HOXIE. PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLEANING STEAM GENERATORS.

No. 585,956. Patented July 6, 1897.

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' ATTORNEY (No Model.)

3 Sheets'Sheet 2. 5 W. D. HOXIE. PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLEANING STEAMGENERATORS.

Patented July 6, 1897.

INVENTOIR WITNESSES: v w dwwyww 6 m. WWW M.

ATTOR N EY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. D. HOXIE PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLEANING STEAM GENERATORS.

Patented July 6,1897.

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UNITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DIXIE HOXIE, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR CLEANING STEAM-GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,956, dated July 6,1897. Application filed October 17, 1896. Serial No. 609,184. (Nomodel.)

To aaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that IJVILLIAM DIXIE Home, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Attachment for CleaningSteam- Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for cleanin g the tubes of asteam-generator, &c., from the soot and ashes which collect upon suchtubes. I

It consists in arranging in proper position with relation to thesurfaces to be cleaned a series of jet-pipes, through which air underpressure can be forced, so as to blow the soot, &c., from the surfacesof the tubes.

The invention is not only applicable to the tubes composing a sectionalsteam-generator and to the feed-water pipes thereof, upon the exteriorsurfaces of which soot and ashes collect, but may also be appliedtovarious forms of generators, as to a tubular boiler of the classcomposed of a cylindrical shell through which run tubes for conveyingthe heated products of combustion, upon the interior surfaces of whichtubes the fouling takes place. 7

The object of the invention is not only to clean the tubes, but toenable the work to be done while the boiler is steaming or in use andwithout the necessity of opening any portion of the casing or setting ofthe boiler, which opening would allow of the escape of heat.

For the purpose of illustrating and describing the invention asteam-generator of the sectional type and having a sectional feedwaterheater has been chosen, it being deemed unnecessary to show all thevarious forms to which the improvement is applicable, as the applicationto other forms than that shown will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of asectional steamgenerator and feed-water heater to which the invention isapplied, portions of the casings which inclose the front of the samebeing broken away. Fig. 2 shows a Vertical longitudinal section of thesame on line 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 represents a substantiallyhorizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows one of thejet-pipes of preferred form in longitudinal section and on a largerscale. Fig. 5 represents an end View of the airdelivery portion of suchpipe. Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through the valve forautomatically preventing an escape of air from the reservoir when thepressure therein is reduced below a certain point.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, four vertical series of jet-pipes a arearranged at the four corners of the boiler 13 and outlying the outsideheaders B thereof, such pipes extendin g substantially parallel with thetubes 19 of the boiler and beyond the inner faces of the headers.Preferably the delivery ends of these pipes are curved, as particularlyshown in Fig. 4, and the convex portion of the curve is perforated toallow the escape of air under pressure, the perforation preferably beingin the form of a slot a of sufficient length to allow the air to escapeover one-fourth the area of a circle, more or less. Several such slotsmay be provided, however, or several holes of other forms may be made insuch end of the pipes, as will be readily understood.

The outer ends of each of the series of jetpipes are respectivelyconnected to pipes C O O O, the front ones 0 O of which are shown asjoined at the top'by a pipe 0 and the rear ones by a pipe 0 Anair-supply pipe D is shown as extending from a compressed-air reservoirE and connecting with the front pipes and an air-supply pipe D asconnecting with the rear pipes; but it is evident that any suitable pipeconnections between the reservoir E and jet-pipes A may be made.

In order to govern the admission of air to the jet-pipes, the pipes Dand D are furnished with valves d, those shown being of the gate patternand being opened and closed by levers d. A valve upon each of said pipesis deemed preferable in order that a comparatively small reservoir E maybe used, though it is evident that a single valve located on the pipe Danywhere between the reservoir and the pipe D may be employed to governthe entrance of air to the front an rear series of jets.

For the purpose of cleaning the tubes 1 of the feed-Water heater]? twoseries of jet-pipes o are shown as employed, one at each end of theheater, the outer ends of which pipes are respectively connected topipes G G. A pipe G is shown as connecting the pipes G G, which aresupplied with air through a pipe G branching from the pipe D and havinga controlling-valve (1, as particularly shown in Fig. 2. Any suitablepipe connections between the reservoirE and jet-pipes a however, may beemployed.

The number and location of the jet-pipes to be combined with agenerator, &c., will depend upon the number and shape of the tubes to becleaned. In the boiler illustrated it is evident that a greater numberof jet-pipes than shown may be used, that they may be located elsewherethan as illustrated, and that additional series of them may be placedintermediate the length of the boiler, if desired.

The reservoir E may be charged to the desired pressure by any suitablemeans, (as an air-pump, not shown,) and is preferably supplied with asafety-valve, as H, Fig. 2.

As a certain pressure of air is needed to effect a cleaning of thetubes, it is desirable that automatic means be employed to prevent anescape of air from the reservoir after the pressure therein has beenreduced below such effective point and a wasteful blowing of air beprevented as well as time saved in recharging the reservoir. The meansshown for this purpose consist of a valve J, Fig. 6, which is forcedtoward its seat 7' by a spring 70. If desired, a nutl may surround thestem of the valve and be screwed into the casing thereof to regulate thepressure of the spring, which pressure is designed to close the valvewhen the air-pressure in the reservoir falls below the effective point.It is evident that so long as the pressure in the reservoir exceeds thatof the spring 70 air will pass through the pipe D (one or more of thevalves 01 being open) until the pressure of air becomes less than theforce of the spring, when the spring will close automatically andprevent further and useless blowing.

WVhen it is desired to clean the tubes, the reservoir is charged and thevalves 01 are opened in succession, such time beingallowed to elapsebetween the several openings as will enable the reservoir to bedesirably recharged if it be a small one. The blasts of air from theperforated ends of the jet-pipes will remove the soot and ashes from thetubes and cause the same under influence of the usual draft to pass to asoot-chamber, from whence removal can be effected, or into thesmokestack or other especially-arranged conduit.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A steam-generator provided with a pneumatic apparatus for cleaningits interior, connected directly therewith and composed of a suitableair-compressor, a series of jet-pipes directed to such parts of thegenerator as desired, valves for governing the admission of air underpressure to such pipes, and means for automatically shutting off the airwhen the pressure falls below a predetermined point, substantially asset forth.

2. A steam-generator provided with a pneumatic apparatus directlyconnected with the generator and forming a part of the same whereby itsinterior may be cleaned during the use of the generator and while closedas set forth.

3. Asteam-generator provided withapneumatic apparatus for cleaning itsinterior connected directly therewith and composed of a suitableair-compressor; a series of jet-pipes directed to such parts of thegenerator as desired, and suitable valves for operating and regulatingthe same, as set forth.

\VILLIAM DIXIE HOXIE.

Witnesses:

OHAs. W. FORBES, EDsoN SALISBURY J ONES.

